Registrations have opened for the 2012 event. New website with new routes - 3 distances on offer - 76km, 25km and 5km. Check it out here and put it in your rides calendar - Sunday 18th November - through Tamborine Mountain and Gold Coast Hinterland.

A great day for it, not too hot and only a bit of wind about. The goat track descent was even worse than i remembered and i absolutely hated it, even with new pads that had been adjusted just right it was bloody scary, i really don't think that road should be used for a mass participation event. It's not just the fact it's incredibly steep and hard to keep the speed under control but the surface is dreadful, especially near the top. The backtracking and looping around tamborine after the climb is also annoying, though i tried to just enjoy the scenery.

Whinge out of the way, the ride as a whole was great, the run through the valley is really nice, the climb up to Curtis Falls is fantastic and ALL the marshalls were really friendly and happy, couldn't help but smile .

I think i was about 2 minutes faster than last year for the climb, can't wait for the times to go up. Will definitely be back next year, even if the goat track remains.

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments- Elizabeth West.

Wow, forgot that was on today. Three mates and I did 190k yesterday - Canungra, Beechmont, Chillingham, Tomewin Rd, Currumbin, Mudgeeraba, Springbrook, Canungra....due to the heat, we bailed on doing Henri Roberts Drive up Tamborine, a seriously steep climb. 190km and 3500m, on one of the hottest days I've ever ridden. We saw Robbie coming back from Tomewin Rd along Currumbin Creek Rd. Have never seen so many riders out in those neck of the woods....presume some were training for TdT.

Last edited by winstonw on Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

we regularly climb and descend the Goat Track, and I tend to agree it is not a good road to descend for occasional riders or those more used to the flats. very easy to cook it on that road.

if you are ever tempted to climb, be aware the traffic lights do not give you enough time to make it to the top. It's better to stop and let the descending cars by on the one lane bit than try to press on with them passing you. it is a really good climb though.

shaneporter wrote:Couple more climbs on top should make it interesting. Going to be epic.

Sure was epic, felt a lot harder than 2011.In fact it felt harder that the Rainbow ride (Byron Bay, 107km) a few weeks ago.But then it was much hotter weather and some unhelpful winds.

I presume that the "extra" climb was that steep pinch after St Bernard's Hotel.No problem with that, but the descent of the St Bernard's hill near the event start was perhaps not such a great idea.A congested bunch of hundreds of cyclists descending at variable high speed on a narrow road with oncoming traffic....Maybe this part of the course should be altered for next year

The bunches had spread out a bit by the time we hit the Goat track, where traffic control was in place.

"Technology gives us much more information but Education is never be able to give us the skill to evaluate it"

Truly was a great event! Lovely atmosphere and also perfect weather. Thanks to all those volunteers who made it such a marvellous experience for most.The big climb got easier, but the to and froing around the township for 35 odd km afterwards was tough.Goat track was a little scary, especially when trying to overtake overcautious riders who change line suddenly.Would have been interesting if it were wet. Curious to find out the attrition rate Shane - how many stacks were there?